Divya Delhi: UNESCO's Global Education Monitoring (GEM) Team told PTI that 272 million children and youth are out of school, up 21 million from the previous estimate. The newest data show that countries would fall 75 million learners short of their education ambitions by 2025. GEM attributes this rise to two main factors. First, new enrollment and attendance figures account for 8 million, or 38%, of the increase. Afghanistan's 2021 prohibition on girls' secondary education contributes to this. Second, revised UN population estimates add 13 million (62% of the gain). In 2025, the 2024 World Population Prospects predict 49 million more 6–17-year-olds (+3.1%). The research highlights the expanding educational crises in conflict-affected areas, noting that information gathering during catastrophes may be hampered, underestimating out-of-school rates. The approach assumes typical school-age progression, which fails during crises when education access changes suddenly. The out-of-school population estimate approach matters too. Administrative data without updated enrolment information counts all school-age population growth as out of school. Survey data divides the additional population proportionally between in-school and out-of-school categories.